The war on religion

One can only fathom why someone would take the lives of innocent and peaceful members of a congregation engaging in a worship service. It is no wonder why the tragedy has shocked the world and has marked a period of mourning. As shocking the event and its aftermath, history reminds us that terror attacks on religious institutions and congregations are much more common than one might think.

The Roman Empire is notoriously remembered for its relentless persecution since 64 A.D. The empire made terror attacks on believers in Christ a blood sport. These persecutions would occur in public places such as the Colosseum, and also involved floggings, beheadings and crucifixions.

More recently, church bombings and shootings are on the rise in America and abroad. According to research by Charles Chinn, a church security expert, more than 617 innocent victims have been killed on faith-based properties in the U.S. since 1999. These deaths occurred as a result of 18 fatal church shootings in that timeframe. Below is a list of some of the churches in which those fatal shootings occurred.

• 1999 Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas;

• 2001 Greater Oak Missionary Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky;

• 2002 Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Lynbrook, New York;

• 2003 Turner Monumental AME Church in Kirkwood, Georgia;

• 2005 Living Church of God in Brookfield, Wisconsin;

• 2005 World Changers Church in College Park, Georgia;

• 2006 Zion Hope Missionary Baptist in Detroit, Michigan;

• 2006 Ministry of Jesus Christ Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana;

• 2007 First Presbyterian Church in Moscow, Idaho;

• 2007 First Congregational Church in Neosho, Missouri;

• 2007 New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado;

• 2008 First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois;

• 2009 Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas;

• 2012 World Changers Church in College Park, Georgia;

• 2015 Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina;

• 2017 Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee;

• 2017 First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas; and

• 2017 St. Alphonsus Church in Fresno, Texas.

Indeed, many have felt threatened by the influence and conviction of religious bodies. After all, our world history and culture are shaped by a belief in supernatural power, dimensions, spirituality, eternity and, yes, God. Religion has transformed the way human beings conceptualize their purpose, relationship with God, love for one another, and life itself.

For evidence of faith’s influence, look no further than the central role it played in our nation’s founding. Two-hundred-and-forty-two years ago, our nation was on the tail end of what historians call the First Great Awakening. The revival spanned more than 40 years, penetrating the hearts of our nation’s founding fathers — most notably, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Quakers have written of witnessing George Washington praying on his knees.

For years, churches have continued to dominate movements and culture. The movement to abolish slavery in 1863; the movement for the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution; the women’s suffrage movement; the nonviolent civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s.

Regardless of our respective creeds, values and beliefs, we each have a moral obligation to support our religious brothers and sisters. In such perilous times, we must unite behind members of churches of all denominations and beliefs to come against acts of terror. We must bring a greater level of awareness to the war on religion and terror attacks being perpetrated on church members. As David Nazario once said, regardless of our collective beliefs in the existence of God, let us each make love our religion.

A native of Pacifica, Jonathan Madison worked as professional policy staff for the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, from 2011-2013. Jonathan currently works as an attorney and can be reached via email at jonathanemadison@gmail.com.